2017 RAPID + TCT

The 2017 RAPID + TCT event recognized veterans in the additive industry, as well as those who are innovating and students who are beginning their careers in the market.

RAPID + TCT is known for being the destination for 3-D manufacturing solutions, and this year the conference and expo’s focus was on “accelerating 3-D manufacturing” throughout numerous markets.

Created for users and suppliers, the 2017 event was a key destination for those who provide technology and for those who needed to understand, explore and adopt 3-D printing, additive manufacturing, 3-D scanning, CAD/CAE, metrology and inspection technologies. This is the first year that SME and The TCT Group partnered to produce the RAPID + TCT + TCT event.

One of the event’s major features was the Additive Manufacturing Community Awards. SME’s Additive Manufacturing Community produces technical content for SME programs and other industry events on advanced additive manufacturing technologies and processes that allow the development, testing, and manufacture of new products faster and more cost-effectively.

This year, the community recognized Dieter Schwarze, PhD, of SLM Solutions GmbH with the 2017 Industry Achievement Award because of his significant and continued impact on additive manufacturing through development of processes and technology applied in industry. In 1989, Schwarze began his research and development work on additive manufacturing and its commercialization. He is one of the primary inventors of selective laser melting. Schwarze holds several patents and previously studied physics at the University of Paderborn.

“Dr. Schwarze has been instrumental in the development and expansion of global additive manufacturing,” says Mihaela Vlasea, PhD, assistant professor in the Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Department at the University of Waterloo and an advisor to SME’s Additive Manufacturing Community. “The impact of his research, development and application of groundbreaking technologies just cannot be overstated. We’re proud to recognize him with this award.”

Since 2008, SME’s Direct Digital Manufacturing Tech Group also has held an annual student competition for high school and college students. This year, the Digital Manufacturing Challenge was won by the team from Virginia Tech: Jacob Fallon, Camden Chatham, Andrew Cohen and Eric Gilmer; and their faculty advisor Christopher Williams, PhD.

“The Virginia Tech team created a Customized Golf Grip to facilitate proper swings and allow players to practice without a professional's supervision,” SME says. “The grips are custom fit using clay, which is scanned to create a 3D-CAD model. Using additive manufacturing, the CAD model is directly manufactured into a set of grips.”

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